Good Morning. The billionaire space race just intensified: Musk ditched Mars for moon cities, directly challenging Bezos's two-decade Blue Origin strategy.

We also share 2026’s extreme weather, Thomas Keller’s simple roasted chicken recipe, and Shakespeare’s dirtiest jokes (forwarded this email? Join 523K readers).

Elon Musk announced this week that SpaceX is shifting focus from Mars to building a lunar city, directly competing with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin. Musk cited concerns about Mars colony sustainability, noting the moon could become self-sufficient in under 10 years versus Mars's 20-plus year timeline due to planetary alignment cycles.

SpaceX conducted 165 launches last year and plans to go public in 2026, while Blue Origin aims for its first lunar cargo flight this year. Both billionaires now envision moon-based factories, with Musk targeting astronaut missions by 2028 aligned with NASA priorities.

The pivot follows SpaceX delays on NASA's moon lander development and challenges with Starship orbital testing. Bezos responded to the news by posting a tortoise image on X, referencing Blue Origin's steady-progress approach to lunar operations.

A persistent atmospheric blocking pattern has created striking weather contrasts across the United States since mid-January (NYT). Florida recorded more snow than Salt Lake City this winter, with Marianna receiving 1.3 inches while Utah's capital saw only a tenth of an inch of ice pellets. Phoenix experienced its warmest winter since 1885.

High pressure systems over the North Atlantic and western United States have created a three-week weather bottleneck. Arctic air funneled into the eastern two-thirds of the country, bringing wind chills to minus 60 degrees in North Dakota and nearly 14 inches of January snow to New York City (versus the typical 8.8 inches). Five winter charts.

The cold stunned over 5,000 iguanas in southern Florida, causing them to lose muscle control and fall from trees. Western ski resorts and water reservoirs face critically low snowpack levels across the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rockies, threatening spring and summer water supplies. Strangest weather events of 2024.

Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel earned approximately $82 million globally during its four-day opening weekend, with $40 million domestically and $42 million overseas. Warner Bros. spent an estimated $80 million producing the R-rated romance starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, plus marketing costs.

Netflix offered roughly $150 million for the project but wouldn't guarantee theatrical release. Fennell and producer Robbie chose Warner Bros. instead, securing placement in 18,028 theaters worldwide. Fennell's previous films underperformed commercially—"Promising Young Woman" (2020) earned $6.5 million domestically, while "Saltburn" (2023) collected about $11 million, but were adored by fans.

The success highlights ongoing gender disparities in Hollywood directing opportunities. Women comprised just 13 percent of directors on 2025's top-250 domestic films, down from 16 percent in 2024. Studios typically provide multiple chances for inexperienced male directors but rarely extend similar support to women.

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MindBodyGreen tested 11 leading fitness apps, evaluating instruction quality, programming depth, user experience, and real-world results to identify the top platforms for home workouts.

Specialty platforms include B The Method ($18/month) for low-impact toning and Obé ($25/month) offering 20+ workout types. Most platforms provide free trials (7-30 days) before commitment.

Renowned chef Thomas Keller shares his technique for perfect roasted chicken, emphasizing fundamentals applicable across culinary disciplines. Key steps include tempering the bird to room temperature, removing the wishbone for easier carving, and trussing to ensure even cooking density throughout.

Keller seasons liberally with salt and pepper, roasting at 450°F for 45-50 minutes without basting. The high-heat method, developed while cooking family meals at French Laundry, produces uniformly golden skin and juicy meat that carves effortlessly.

Watch video | Free Bourdain reruns

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▲ Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigns amid weeks of controversy over Jeffrey Epstein ties | Manhattan club

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▲ Warner Brothers Discovery reconsiders Paramount's $108.4 billion all-cash bid after initially accepting Netflix's $83 billion offer

▲ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez debuts foreign policy vision at Munich Security Conference fueling 2028 presidential speculation

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